My Lords, the depot of the Royal Irish Rangers at Ballymena currently accommodates both junior and adult training. Its dual training task is currently being examined in the light of the recent comprehensive review of all army training. I hope that it will not be too long before I can make an announcement on its future role.

My Lords, I am obliged to my noble friend. Leaving aside the military arguments in this case, is my noble friend aware that it is already being said in Northern Ireland that this is the first sign of a surrender, indicating the intention to withdraw the army from Northern Ireland? Does my noble friend realise that as long as that threat remains it represents a powerful weapon in the psychological armoury of the IRA?

My Lords, the suggestion which my noble friend reports is, of course, without foundation. Nonetheless, I have recently visited the barracks at Ballymena and met local people, and naturally all these points of view will be taken into account.

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that this is the only regiment in the army which is recruited wholly in Ireland? Would it not be unthinkable to withdraw from Ballymena to (I think it is proposed) Catterick? Surely we must have a recruiting centre in Ireland to recruit from the main source for this very remarkable, long-serving and long-enduring regiment.